Creating the virtual fossil record of Panama

What is going to become of the research efforts of PCP-PIRE scientists long after the bulldozers have gone and jungle has again consumed once productive outcrops along the Panama Canal? Legacies of the PCP-PIRE are a generation of multiculturally trained young scientists, their research publications and the fossils collected from the Panama Canal region. These collections of fossils are all the more valuable given that they are tied to very precise data about their geographic and stratigraphic provenance. Safeguarding and preserving this record of ancient biodiversity for future generations of scientists is one of the roles of the Florida Museum of Natural History.

Last year I spoke at the PCP-PIRE All Hands meeting on the Fossils of Panama initiative to digitize FLMNH’s growing collection of fossils from Panama. (By digitize, I mean imaging specimens and putting the images and associated information into a database). These Panamanian fossils include the considerable material collected during the present PCP-PIRE project, but also a number of recently accessioned historic collections. The historical collections represent many localities that can no longer be accessed; within a few years, the same will be true of PCP PIRE collection sites.

The Fossils of Panama initiative funded through iDigBio and PCP-PIRE therefore has three important objectives: (1) to digitize all of the FLMNH’s fossil collections from Panama; (2) to make these collections accessible to the public, including the citizens of Panama; and (3) to help the collections serve an education purpose. Many museums around the United States are participating in digitization activities, reflecting the evolving funding priorities and the development of technologies that make this economic and efficient. FLMNH is no exception to this; as of this time more specimens from Panama reposited in the FLMNH are publicly searchable on the Internet than in any other natural history museum worldwide. However the second and third objectives are more unique and carry additional challenges if they are to be successful in countries where English is not the primary language spoken. We are actively developing bilingual online resources that will showcase our growing collections and provide education tools for both PCP-PIRE activities (e.g., California Teachers) and K-12 educators and students in Panama. We’re looking for user input in their design and implementation so please take a look at the Fossils of Panama online resources as they are rolled out over the next six months and feel free to make your contribution to one of the PCP-PIRE’s sustainable legacies. We’ll keep you posted when the site is up!